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The senior Vietnamese diplomat made the suggestion while addressing the ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Retreat (AMM Retreat), which opened in Singapore on February 6 under the themes of “Resilience” and “Innovation.” The meeting is the first ASEAN FMs’ conference hosted by Singapore in 2018, the third year of the implementation of the ASEAN Community.
Speaking at the event, Deputy PM Minh stressed that ASEAN should uphold its basic values and principles to consolidate unity and affirm ASEAN's united voice on matters of common concern and interest.
He suggested that ASEAN should develop a balanced and effective approach to external relations by further enhancing the performance of ASEAN-led mechanisms and forums as a key tool for ASEAN to maintain its central role in the region.
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The AMM Retreat opens in Singapore on February 6.
The Vietnamese Deputy PM asked the ASEAN member countries to remain consistent with ASEAN’s views on regional and international issues of mutual concern, including those related to the East Sea, towards upholding the commitments to the peaceful settlement of disputes through peaceful means in line with international law, including the 1982 UNCLOS. They should promote real negotiations on the Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC) and step up building trust among the countries.
FMs at the AMM Retreat reviewed the results after the 31st ASEAN Summit in Manila, the Philippines, last November, while identifying ASEAN cooperation priorities in 2018, its directions in external relations and enhancing ASEAN's central role in regional processes, as well as exchanging on regional and international issues of common concern.
They agreed with the proposals on the implementation of ASEAN-China substantive negotiations on the COC and directed the senior officials concerned to hold the first round of negotiations in Vietnam next March.
